Government’s €382k adds 1 to bird population

A BIRD in the hand is worth... €382,000 actually.

Well, that’s how much the Department of Arts and Heritage spent, with the end result of increasing our national population of male corncrakes by just one bird this year.

According to preliminary census figures released by the department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), this summer’s count recorded 134 calling males — an increase of one on last year. But divisional manager Pat Warner said: “I would take a one-point win this year and a win last year after almost 18 years of a decline.”

Mr Warner said it was too early to say whether the NPWS had turned the corner in trying to maintain numbers.

“Before we could say that, we would have to see growth over four to five years. But we are cautiously optimistic,” he said.

Mr Warner described the corncrake as an “iconic” bird, that was “the aural landscape of rural Ireland”.

The census reveals that there is now only one calling male in the Shannon Callows — formerly a corncrake stronghold.

The department confirmed that this year €290,000 was set aside for farmers participating in the corncrake conservation scheme and €92,000 for the scheme’s running costs.

The department said: “This project has only been under the direct management of the department in the last two years.

“Up to 2009, numbers had been on the decline each year. Since then, however, there have been tiny, positive increases in corncrake numbers.”

Mr Warner said the €290,000 payment to farmers “goes straight into the rural economy in relatively small amounts”.

The corncrake has three strongholds in Ireland: Donegal, west Connacht and the Shannon Callows.

Senior conservation officer with Birdwatch Ireland Anita Donaghy said: “The corncrake is on the verge of extinction in the Shannon Callows and that is very disappointing and very disheartening.”

Dr Donaghy said it was “absolutely necessary” that the money be spent in order for Ireland to avoid fines after a European Court of Justice ruling found the state neglected its duty to the corncrake.